THE BRAINAn Illustrated History of Neuroscience
(100 Ponderables)
Tom Jackson
Includes a removable, foldout 12-page poster featuring a Timeline History of the Brain and optical illusions
978-0-9853230-8-0 | Hardcover | 144 pages | 9.1″ x 10.9″
List Price: $24.95
DESCRIPTION
Here is the essential guide to the human brain, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines the three pounds of matter inside our heads that does all our thinking for us. With 100 billion nerve cells joined by thousands more to every corner of the body, the brain is wired together with 100 trillion connections. That makes each and every human brain a contender for the most complex system in the Universe, endowing us with an intellect that far outstrips any other creature. However, one difficult question remains: Are we intelligent enough to understand our own brains? Follow the journey as history’s greatest brains, including Avicenna, Thomas Willis, Charles Darwin, and Paul Broca, try to figure it out by linking structure to function. How does the brain control the body, make sense of our surroundings, and allow us to understand, empathize with, and love other people and their brains? And how does it create that most mysterious feature of the Universe, consciousness? 100 chronological articles tell the story of neuroscience from the dawn of history to the present day. Authoritative text, exciting imagery, and helpful diagrams accompany each of the steps along the way. Biographies of great neuroscientists and a functional map of the brain boost the content for all readers. This simple guide to neuroscience draws together current understanding and sets out the basics of the field. A removable foldout timeline/chart poster neatly housed at the back of the book includes a 12-page Timeline History of the Brain and 12 pages of optical illusions that demonstrate how our view of the world comes entirely from the brain which can sometimes be fooled.
The Brain is part of the bestselling 100 Ponderables series which tackles STEM subjects by partnering lively text about significant milestones with stunning illustrations. Every book includes a timeline/chart poster which puts these milestones in historical context. Perfect for smart kids and curious adults!
REVIEWS
“…you’ll find beautifully illustrated pages listing 100 breakthroughs and important subject areas in the field…all explained in plain language that is easily accessible. These are great texts for reference or exploring a new area of interest, and they have a foldout timeline guide… depicting milestones in the field.”
Jaime Herndon, American Scientist, 2024
“In 100 concise (most a page or less in length) essays, this beautifully illustrated volume provides a fascinating take on the most misunderstood human organ: the brain. Science writer Jackson (Mathematics: An Illustrated History of Numbers) includes a removable/foldout time line that parallels the development of neuroscience alongside cultural events, world events, scientific discoveries, and inventions. This book is not meant to be an all-inclusive or in-depth analysis of this subject, like Mitchell Glickstein’s Neuroscience: A Historical Introduction. Instead it’s aimed at reaching a middle to high school audience and the interested layperson. Illustrations of the nervous system and diagrams of the parts of the brain that control different functions in the body provide clear, easy-to-understand information of complex systems. A section entitled “Imponderables” considers what the point of crying is, and if it’s possible to preserve a brain after death and restart it. Short biographies of key people who helped advance the development of brain science such as Avicenna, Thomas Willis, Charles Darwin, and Paul Broca are included. VERDICT This book is essential for middle and high school teachers as well as career advisors; it is guaranteed to pique the interest of the most reluctant science student, making neuroscience approachable and exciting for general readers.”
Library Journal, Christine Sharbrough, Chelmsford P.L., MA
“This book is essential for middle and high school teachers as well as career advisors; it is guaranteed to pique the interest of the most reluctant science student, making neuroscience approachable and exciting for general readers.”
Library Journal, Cristine Sharbrough, Chelmsford P.L.. MA
AUTHOR BIO
Tom Jackson is a science writer based in the United Kingdom. Tom specializes in recasting science and technology into lively historical narratives. After almost 20 years of writing, Tom has uncovered a wealth of stories that help create new ways to enjoy learning about science. He studied at the University of Bristol and still lives in the city with his wife and three children.